Worm-gearing



A. A. FIRESTONE.

WORM GEARIN G. APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. 1919.

Patented May 25,1920.

IIIIIIIIIIIII;

VIII/JP74- IJV/IIII III Fri- Jaws Y6.

UNITED STATES ADRIAN A. FIRESTONE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

WORM-GEARING.

Application filed May 5,

To all 407M103, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADRIAN A. FIRESTONE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Worm Gearing, of which the following is a specificatiop, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present invention relates to worm gearing and has for its object the provision of suitable gearingwhich may be employed in driving vehicles or other apparatus where reduction gearing is reguired. Important features are the use 0 removable hemispherical teeth mounted so as to be capable of rotatiive movement to decrease the wear. Other objects are the provision of satisfactory gearing which may be made at a reasonable cost and assembled easily and quickly. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, sa d invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawin and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such dlsclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Figure 1 is a front elevation of my 1mproved gearing; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a broken rear elevation showing the arrangement of the retaining ring.

The invention has been illustrated as con nected to suitable driving and driven shafts rigidly mounted and of a type suited for power transmission, it being understood that the use to which the gearing is put will determine the. arrangement of parts and general structure for carrying the gearing proper.

As shown, a suitable base or carrier 1 1s employed, this base having two upright arms 2 in which the shaft 3 carrying the worm gear 4 is mounted in suitable bearing caps 5. This shaft extends beyond one of these caps and, asshown, is provided with a pulley wheel 7 through which it is dr ven. This particular construction merely 1llus tratesone suitable manner of mounting the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 294,671.

face of the wheel and engage with the worm gear. At the back, each stud is provided with a head 15 which maintains it in the correct position and limits the amount the pins extend through the wheel. To hold the studs in place, an annular plate or ring 16 is provided, which is mounted on bosses 17 on the wheel. These bosses are hollow and bolts which pass through the bosses and apertures in the ring are used to secure the ring in position. The bolts have the usual nuts to retain the device together. These bosses extend rearwardly a sufiicient distance to allow the heads of the studs to fit snugly between the wheel and the plate but do not allow the studs to bind or become tight. There are two rows of bosses, one adjacent the periphery of the wheel and the other within the line of the studs, thus carrying the plate securely and preventing its bending and binding on the studs.

The whole gearing may be suitably inclosed in a grease-tight casing, so as to run in oil or it may be left open as shown, depending upon the use to which it is to be put. It is, of course, understood that the present mount for the gearing is merely illustrative and that it will be mounted according to the particular conditions under which it will be operating.

As shown, the worm gear is in contact with four of the studs upon the gear and two of these studs are upon the opposite sides of the gear from the others, so that the thrust is equalized, thus minimizing the wear upon the wheel and bearings. In this manner, a very satisfactory and easily con structed worm gearing is furnished. The parts may be readily assembled and replaced and when badily worn the studs may be renewed. The studs revolve in the sockets or apertures and thus help to prevent and reduce the wear. In fact, the studs act as roller bearings and a rolling friction is obtained between the studs and the worm gear. The ease of assembly and repair and the simplicity and relative lower cost make the present gearing a very satisfactory device.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In Worm gearing, the combination of a worm wheel having a row of spaced apertures near its periphery, studs having hemispherical ends rotatably mounted in such apertures, said studs having heads contacting the rear face of said wheel to limit their forward position, a retaining ring attached to said wheel and contacting the heads of said studs-to prevent longitudinal movement thereof, and a worm gear mounted adjacent the face of said worm wheel and adapted to engage with said hemispherical ends of said studs.

2. In worm gearing, the combination of a worm wheel having a row of spaced apertures near its periphery, studs having hemispherical ends removably and rotatably mounted in such apertures, said studs having heads contacting the rear face of said wheel to limit their forward position, a retaining ring removably attached to the rear face of said worm wheel and adapted to contact the heads of said studs to prevent longitudinal movement thereof, and a worm gear mounted adjacent the face of said \vorin wheel and adapted to engage with said hemispherical ends of said studs.

3. In worm gearing, the combination of a worm wheel having a row of spaced apertures near its periphery, studs having he1ni spherical ends rotatably mounted in such apertures, said studs having heads contact- A ing the rear face of said wheel to limit their forward movement, bosses on the rear face of said wheel, a retaining ring removably attached to said bosses and spaced away from said wheel to contact and maintain r said studs to prevent backward movement thereof, and a worm gear mounted adjacent the face of said worm wheel and adapted to engage with the hemispherical ends of said studs.

Signed by me this 2nd day of May, 1919.

ADRIAN A. FIRESTONE. 

